Prostitute suspected in Google exec’s heroin death

Posted: Wednesday, Jul 9th, 2014BY: TARMO HANNULA

Alix Tichelman was appointed public defender Diana August Wednesday in Superior Court in Santa Cruz where she is facing manslaughter charges in the death of a Google executive of Santa Cruz. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian)

SANTA CRUZ — A high-end prostitute made her first court appearance Wednesday where she faces felony manslaughter charges in the death of a Google executive.

Alix Catherine Tichelman, 26, of Folsom is suspected of killing Forrest Timothy Hayes, 51, aboard his 50-foot yacht, Escape, while it was docked at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor in November.

Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Steve Clark said detectives were called to the B dock Nov. 23 after suspicious circumstances were uncovered. Since then detectives have been conducting an intensive investigation to learn the circumstances surrounding the death, and learn more about the suspect.